Letters to the Editor | Feb. 28, 2023

The decision of the School District of Philadelphia to “democratize” the admission procedures of the district’s 39 special admission schools to better “reflect the city’s diversity” sugarcoats the real reason: to achieve racial balance. This is wrong. These schools should reflect the ability of the student population of Philadelphia who is able to benefit from a more rigorous curriculum. Students who cannot cope with such a curriculum should not hold back those who can. Years ago, the district eliminated tracking, which grouped students according to their academic ability, because it was similarly “undemocratic.” The result of the predictable decline in quality education for the smarter students was the rise of charter schools and an exodus of middle-class families to suburban schools, which were viewed as superior. Unless the district reverses this ill-conceived policy, the city will lose more middle-class families and the huge financial benefits they bring to the city.

David C. Harrison, Philadelphia

Sunday’s Life & Culture article about Generation Jones was the most ageist thing I’ve ever read. Try substituting “people of color” or “women” or “queer people” for “baby boomers” and read it out loud. See what I mean? Readers are owed an apology. I could list positive contributions of baby boomers to the world, and negative impacts of “Generation Jones” — or any other generation, for that matter — but that would just be tit-for-tat ageism on my part. Slandering an entire generation is as bad as slandering a race, ethnicity, sexual identity or preference, or gender. Please take it back.

Robin Schaufler, Swarthmore

Two City Council district representatives (out of 10) have resigned to seek the mayor’s seat. In addition, four Council at-large members (out of seven) have done this as well. Thus, we have six of 17 elected members not in office, most of whom have appointed interim/acting stand-ins until the coming elections. My question is this: Are we suffering as a result? Is the democratic process (such as it is on Council, which we know operates more like a fiefdom) hurting at all with fewer members? Maybe we’re indirectly learning a lesson here and could live with fewer representatives and a smaller Council. We’re hearing about the need for higher taxes (and watching the city bungle yet another function it provides as it can’t handle the number of appeals submitted on a timely basis), so maybe this is one big area to make cuts. To date, Council has been largely untouched by reductions. Perhaps this is its time to be on the chopping block. It seems as if things might still get done without any impact on how the government works (and maybe it will work even better with less). Worth a try.

R. M. Wright, Philadelphia

Gov. Josh Shapiro and some of his staff accepting Super Bowl tickets from a nonprofit are two fumbles. These top officials should know better, that their litmus test for conflict of interest is not simply how they read the letter of their law but to avoid the appearance of conflict of interest. Second, nonprofits of any type, especially those receiving money from a government entity, have no right to give away revenue to public officials for entertainment purposes. The nonprofit Team Pennsylvania demonstrates poor stewardship of its funding through this “gift.” Team Pennsylvania had a lapse of good practice and oversight in this case. Shapiro and his staff should pay back to our state any money they received for the tickets and the trip to the Super Bowl. Poor judgment by nonprofit leaders in handling grants reflects poorly on all nonprofits.

Stephen F. Gambescia, Philadelphia, sfg23@drexel.edu

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